Pulling into to Dallas for their second U.S. run behind last years As We Die LP, the eponymous band of Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein remains an aggressive and intense unit prepared to rip everyone’s heads off. If you came out hoping to hear some Misfits classics, you wouldn’t get it. However, drawing on their own material from two full-length albums, the band delivers an excellent, high-energy show without relying on your high school nostalgia.
Local powerhouse Bad Blood kicked the evening off at 8:00. Recently nominated as “Best Metal Act,” the band plowed through their short opening set and got the crowd properly warmed-up. The BPM’s drummer Stephen Bonilla achieves and withstands for the duration of the set is astounding. The always welcomed Rivethead followed Bad Blood with an equally satisfying set. If you live in Dallas-Fort Worth, you’ve probably seen the industrial-metalhead’s more than once. Always giving a highly entertaining performance, the band has earned a reputation as one of the best and most consistent live acts in town. Texas’ Ghoultown was the highlight of the opening acts. Blending punk, country-twang, and horror-rock into a surprisingly cohesive blend, Ghoultown had a large contingent of fans collected for their set. The band added a bit of variety to the evening and put on a great performance.
Going on a little before 11:00, Doyle took the stage to a roaring applause from the crowd. Having seen the band the last two times they were at Trees, this was by far the largest crowd to date, most of whom can be counted as hardcore fans of the band. Vocalist Alex Story was a non-stop bundle of fury as he contorted wildly, climbed the speaker cabinets, or fell to his knees while belting out his lyrics. Of course, Doyle is a vocally mute, yet dominating presence. Often punching his guitar between strums, stomping around like a monster, and blowing bubblegum bubbles, Doyle is a a site to behold. What’s more, he has become a damn fine guitar player, exceeding what you might expect from solely the Misfits recordings he’s best identified with, his leads are sharp and his solos are melodic and tasteful. Playing material from 2013’s Abominator and As We Die, the only problem with the set was that it wasn’t longer. There was no encore, though the crowd didn’t plead for one, but everyone on hand would’ve been happy with five or six more songs. That said, the band certainly satisfied everyone on hand and could never be accused of not delivering a powerful set. I can’t imagine how tired these dudes must be after they play, because they put it all out there. Between now and Jaunary 2nd, the band is playing everywhere (see dates after the photo gallery).
– J. Kevin Lynch (words); Brently Kirksey (photos)
– click to enlarge photos –
Oct 27 ’18 Oklahoma City, OK 89th Street Collective
Oct 29 ’18 Minneapolis, MN Lee’s Liquor Lounge
Oct 30 ’18 Milwaukee, WI Miramar Theater
Oct 31 ’18 Joliet, Il The Forge
Nov 1 ’18 Green Bay, WI Green Bay Distillery
Nov 2 ’18 Lisle Il, Base Camp
Nov 3 ’18 Westland, MI Token Lounge
Nov 4 ’18 Kent, OH The Outpost
Nov 6 ’18 Morgantown, WV 123 Pleasant Street
Nov 7 ’18 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
Nov 8 ’18 Johnson City, TN The Hideaway
Nov 9 ’18 Spartanburg, SC Ground Zero
Nov 10 ’18 Fayetteville, NC The Drunk Horse
Nov 11 ’18 Richmond, VA Canal Club
Nov 12 ’18 Baltimore, MD Soundstage
Nov 13 ’18 Harrisonburg, VA Golden Pony
Nov 14 ’18 Covington, KY Madison Live
Nov 15 ’18 Huntington, WV V Club
Nov 16 ’18 Raleigh, NC The Maywood
Nov 17 ’18 Charlotte, NC The Underground
Nov 18 ’18 Wilmington, NC Calico Room
Nov 20 ’18 Worcester, MA The Palladium
Nov 21 ’18 Elmhurst, NY Blackthorn 51
Nov 23 ’18 Pittsburgh, PA Smiling Moose
Nov 24 ’18 Madison, WI Ruby Lounge
Nov 25 ’18 St Cloud, MN Red Carpet
Nov 27 ’18 Chippewa Falls, WI Every Buddy’s Bar
Nov 28 ’18 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
Nov 29 ’18 Omaha, NE Lookout Lounge
Nov 30 ’18 Springfield, MO Outland Ballroom
Dec 1 ’18 Merriam, KS Aftershock
Dec 2 ’18 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
Dec 4 ’18 Seattle, WA El Corazon
Dec 5 ’18 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
Dec 6 ’18 Sacramento, CA Holy Diver
Dec 7 ’18 San Francisco, CA Thee Parkside
Dec 8 ’18 Temecula, Ca The Boiler Room
Dec 9 ’18 Tempe, AZ Club Red
Dec 10 ’18 San Diego, Ca Brick by Brick
Dec 11 ’18 Flagstaff, AZ The Green Room
Dec 12 ’18 Santa Ana, CA Malones
Dec 13 ’18 West Hollywood, CA Whisky a Go-Go
Dec 14 ’18 West Hollywood, CA Whisky a Go-Go
Dec 15 ’18 Las Vegas, NV Beauty Bar
Dec 16 ’18 Salt Lake City, UT Liquid Joe’s
Dec 18 ’18 Lawton, OK Railhead Venue
Dec 19 ’18 Tulsa, OK The Shrine
Dec 20 ’18 Louisville, KY Diamond Pub Concert Hall
Dec 21 ’18 Buffalo, NY Buffalo Iron Works
Dec 22 ’18 Teaneck, NJ Debonair Music Hall
Dec 23 ’18 Clifton Park, NY Upstate Concert Hall
Dec 26 ’18 Amityville, NY Amityville Music Hall
Dec 27 ’18 Philadelphia, PA Foundry
Dec 28 ’18 Providence, RI Fete Music Hall
Dec 29 ’18 Manchester, NH Jewel
Dec 30 ’18 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground
Dec 31 ’18 Virginia Beach, VA Shaka’s
Jan 2 ’19 Vienna, VA Jammin Java
Jan 3 ’19 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Bazaar
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